Improved still for oilsy



G. A. HARDY. STILL FOR OILS, &c.

Nu. 46,899. Patented Mar. 21', 1865.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVED STILL FOR O|LS,"&.C.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 46,899, dated March 21, 1865.

To all whom it may'concern: Be-it known that 1, CHARLES A. HARDY, of

-Pi ttsburg, in'the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Still for Oil and other Liquids; and I do. hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof. which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of this in'vention, the line w as, Fig. 2, indicating the plane 'of section. Fig. 2 is a plan or'top view of the same. Y

Similar letters parts This invention consists in a still with two chambers, one above the other, communicating with each other through suitable pipes or valves arranged in combination with asupplypipe and with separate heads and escape-pipes in such a manner that oil or other liquid introduced into the upper chamber or compartment can be. freed from its most volatile constituents and heated to ahigh temperature be- .fore it is let down into the lower compartment, in which the final distillation is effected. The valves whichopen and close the supply-pipe andthe passage leading from the upper to the lower compartment are connected to floats in such a manner that the level of the liquid in both compartments remains uniform by'the automatic action of said floats and valves. The formation of a sediment in the bottom of the still is prevented by a stirrer, to which a continuous rotary motion is imparted while the distilling operation is in progress.

A represents a still, made of sheet-iron or any other suitable material,'in the form of a cylinder or in any other desirable shape. It is divided by a horizontal partition, a, in two compartments, B G, of equal or unequal capacity, as may be most convenient. partments communicate by a siphon-tube, b, or in anyother suitable manner with a supply-tank, from which the 'oil or other liquid is introduced into the still. The upper compartof reference indicate like ment, B, serves to separate from the liquid to .be distilled its most volatile constituentsfor instance, if crude petroleum is to be distilled,

to driveout the benzine.

These volatile con- Both comstituents escape through the headD and escape-pipe D, and the remaining liquid is let downinto the compartment 0, where the final distillation is effected. The products of distillation from this last-named compartment es- 0 tpe through the head E and escape-pipe E, and each of the escape-pipes D and E leads to a separate condenser, so that the light and the heavy constituents of the liquid to be distilled are separated in an easy and simple manner. The supply-pipe b communicates with the two compartments-B O of the still bybranch pipes l) 0', each of which is provided with a stopcock, so that the liquid to be distilled can be letinto eitheror both compartments of the still.

In practice the cold or fresh liquid will be introduced into the upper compartment, B,

where it is heated so as to drive out its most volatile constituents, and it is then letdown into the lower compartment, 0. In order to effect this purpose the two compartmentsare made to communicate with each other through the upright stand-pipe F, with branch pipes'd e, each of which is provided with a stop-cock, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The stand-pipe]? is furnished with a series of gage-cocks, f,..

whereby the level of the liquid in either cornpartment can be ascertained at any moment. If desired, the-communication between the two compartments of the still can be effected by an aperture in the partition a, which is closed by a valve, 9. The stem of this valve is hinged to the long arm of a lever, h, which has its fulcrum in a bracket, '5, secured to the under surface of the partition a, and the short arm of said lever connects by a chain or cord, j, with a float, It. If the liquid in the lower compartment, 0, sinks below a certain point, theweight of the float kthrows open the valve 9 and a fresh supply of liquid descends from the compartment B. A screw-rod, 2, which passes down through the top of the still, serves to close the valve 9 at any moment when it may be desirable, independent of the level of the, liquid in the compartment 0. The supply of liquid to the upper compartment can also be regulated by a float, m, which is secured to the long arm of a lever, 'n, the fulcrum of which is in a bracket, 0, secured'to the under. side of the top of the still, and its short arm connects by a hinge-joint with the stem of valve 1; in the opening leading from the supply-pipe b to the upper compartment, B. If the liquid in this compartment rises beyond a certain point, the valve 1; is closed by the action of the float m and the supply of liquid is stopped; Iout so soon as the liquid sinks below a certain level the valve opens again and a fresh supply of liquid is admitted. By the action of the two valves 9 and p and floats k and m the level of the liquid in .Tboth compartments is regulated automatically, and no attention is required to that part ofth'e-operation while the still is in action.

To prevent the formation of asediment on the bottom of the still, an agitator. or stirrer,

-G, is applied, which is secured to the lower end of a .vertical shaft, H, which extends up through the center of the still, andto the up- .per end of which apulley, I, is secured, which serves to impart to the shaft and agitator. a rotary motion. The lower edge of the agitator sweeps close over the inner surface of the bottom of the still, and by its action the'bottom is keptclean and prevented from burning out. The residuum is drawn from the still through a pipe, J; i

A still of this construction can be worked without interruption for a long time, the supply of liquid is self-regulating, the heavy and light products of distillation are readily separated, and a comparatively small amount of fuel is required, because the. liquid to be dis CHARLES A. HARDY.

Witnesses:

WM. F. MONAMARA. M. M. LIVINGSTON. 

